7 Fun Things to Do in Waco, TX, that Aren't Magnolia
Sure, Magnolia put Waco on the map for a lot of people, but there’s a whole weird, wonderful, and surprisingly wild side of this Texas town that has nothing to do with shiplap. I spent a few days digging into the non-Magnolia side of Waco, and what I found was a city full of street art, funky dive bars, camel fossils (yes, really), and my personal favorite: actual mammoth bones still in the ground.
If you're planning a visit - or just want to see what Waco’s all about beyond the cupcakes and crowds - these are seven stops I totally recommend. And trust me… you’re going to want to read to the end for the mammoth-camel plot twist.
1. Hunt for Blek Le Rat
If you’re into street art (or just love a good scavenger hunt), Waco has something unexpected up its sleeve. Back in 2018, the legendary French artist Blek le Rat (a.k.a. the “Father of Stencil Graffiti” and a major influence on Banksy) left behind six murals scattered around downtown.
I made it my personal mission to find them all, and let me tell you, some are easier than others. The Selfie Rat? That one’s hiding in the Undercroft Social Club, a speakeasy tucked beneath Cultivate 7Twelve. Yes, it’s technically members-only, but day passes are available if you want to peek inside and snag a selfie with the Rat himself (worth it).
The rest of the murals are sprinkled across downtown - coffee shops, breweries, galleries - and each one feels like its own little art-fueled adventure. Here’s your cheat sheet if you want to find them all:
Violinist – Dichotomy Coffee & Spirits, 508 Austin Ave
Selfie Rat – Undercroft Social Club (beneath Cultivate 7Twelve), 712 Austin Ave
Young Chopin – Waco Running Company, 700 Franklin Ave
In Honor of Kurt Kaiser – Apex Coffee Roasters, 324 S. 6th St
Young Picasso – Art Center of Waco, 701 S. 8th St
Victor Hugo – Brotherwell Brewing, 400 E. Bridge St
Grab a coffee (or a pint), hit the pavement, and turn your trip into an artsy little scavenger hunt. Your camera roll will thank you.
2. Explore All 416 Acres of Cameron Park
View from Lover’s Leap
Cameron Park is one of those places where you could spend the whole day and still not see it all. I only scratched the surface, but even with just a short walk, it was easy to see why locals love it. Nestled between the Brazos River and downtown Waco, it’s 400+ acres of trails, cliffs, river views, and green space perfect for biking, hiking, or just aimlessly wandering with a coffee in hand.
One of the park’s best-known spots is Lover’s Leap, which comes with its own dramatic (and possibly not entirely factual) legend. Supposedly, a Waco Indian princess named Wah-Wah-Tee and her forbidden Apache lover leapt to their deaths from the cliffs when their families refused to let them be together. My driver-slash-tour guide from Waco Streak pulled up to the lookout and said, totally straight-faced, “Look, you can still see their footprints!” And for one second, I genuinely believed it... until I realized it was just other tourists' shoe prints in the dust. Still a great view, though.
If you’re feeling ambitious, tackle Jacob’s Ladder - a steep, zig-zagging staircase with about a hundred steps and a solid chance of next-day thigh soreness. Or just grab a picnic and sprawl out like the rest of Waco does when the weather’s nice (which, honestly, is most of the time).
3. Step Back in Time at Homestead Craft Village
Okay, full honesty: I haven’t made it out to Homestead Craft Village yet, but more than one local told me it’s a must-see, so I’m officially putting it on your list (and mine, for next time). It’s part of the larger Homestead Heritage community, an agrarian group that welcomes visitors to explore their way of life and check out traditional crafts being made the old-fashioned way.
From what I hear, it’s the kind of place where you can watch blacksmiths forge tools, see a loom in action, sample homemade cheeses and baked goods, and stock up on all the handmade soaps and herbal goodies your suitcase can handle. There’s also a cozy cafe on site, and rumor has it their seasonal cobbler is worth the trip alone.
If you’re into slow living, handmade everything, or just want a peaceful detour from downtown, this seems like a solid bet. Bonus: it’s super family-friendly and completely unplugged, so you might actually relax for an hour or two. Imagine that.
4. Eat & Drink Your Way Around Town
Short ribs from Pivovar
Waco’s food and drink scene goes way beyond what you'd expect, and honestly, it was one of the highlights of my trip. Whether you're after bold flavors, laid-back vibes, or somewhere to sip something delicious and people-watch, this town delivers.
Start your day at Dichotomy Coffee & Spirits for a caffeine boost and rooftop views. Pop over to Union Hall for lunch - a food hall packed with local vendors, so you can go full food-crawl mode or just grab a quick bite from whatever stall speaks to your taste buds that day (mine whispered bao buns).
For dinner, I can’t recommend Pivovar enough. Between the Czech-inspired menu, the in-house brewery, and the atmosphere (hello, romantic beer garden lighting), it’s an experience from the first sip to the last bite.
This barely scratches the surface of what Waco’s cooking up. Check out my full foodie guide to Waco for even more recs.
If you’re looking for where to grab a drink after dark, Waco’s bar scene is surprisingly varied. Truelove Bar is your go-to for a relaxed divey feel with a welcoming crowd, and One Day Bar is perfect if you want a spot that feels effortlessly cool. Still thirsty? I got you! I rounded up my favorite places to drink in Waco for you to check out.
5. Wander Baylor’s Campus (and Think About Bears on Soda)
I haven’t had a chance to fully explore Baylor University’s campus yet, but it’s high on my list for next time. The whole area is packed with history, beautiful architecture, and reportedly some solid people-watching if you're into that sort of thing (I am).
But here’s the fun (and unethical) fact that brought the campus on my radar: for years, Baylor used to feed their live bear mascots Dr Pepper. Yep. Just casually handing over one of the world’s sugariest sodas to a literal bear like it was no big deal. It wasn’t until the mid-90s that someone finally went, “Hmm… maybe soda causes cavities?” and pulled the plug. I have questions. So many questions.
If you do get the chance to wander the campus, check out the Armstrong Browning Library (allegedly filled with more stained glass than should be allowed in one building) and the Baylor Bear Habitat, where the current mascots live (on a strict soda-free diet, thankfully).
6. Sip Some History at the Dr Pepper Museum
Even if you're not a hardcore soda drinker, the Dr Pepper Museum is worth the stop. Housed in the original bottling plant, it dives deep into the quirky history of America’s oldest major soft drink (yep, it’s older than Coke).
One of the coolest parts? The vintage advertising, especially the “10, 2, and 4” campaign from the 1920s that encouraged you to drink Dr Pepper at those exact times each day to stay refreshed between meals. Structured soda breaks? I’m listening.
You can also try a soda flight of rare flavors, make your own, and wander through rows of nostalgic signs, machines, and soft drink oddities. Wrap it all up with a Dr Pepper float at the old-school soda fountain. It’s sweet, fizzy, and exactly what you didn’t know your Waco trip needed.
7. Walk Among Mammoths (and Camels?!)
Hands down, the Mammoth National Monument was my most memorable stop in all of Waco. I was already hyped to see actual mammoth fossils still in the ground - because, let’s be honest, prehistoric giant elephants just hit different - but this place completely blew my mind.
You walk through this covered archaeological dig site where the bones of Columbian mammoths (the tall, not-so-fluffy Texas cousins of woolly mammoths) are still right there, laid out in the dirt like they just decided to lie down and never got up. It’s surreal and massive and oddly moving.
But here’s where it goes from cool to completely unhinged in the best way: I’m walking through, soaking it all in, when I spot a little plaque that says “camel.” I did a full cartoon double-take. A camel?? In Texas?? Naturally, I flagged down the first ranger I could find, and (plot twist!) camels actually originated in North America.
Not only that, but the working theory is that camels used to hang around with mammoths because the mammoths were big enough to scare off predators, while camels were faster and more alert. So basically, camels were the squirrelly lookout friends in this Ice Age buddy system. And yes, my brain still hasn’t recovered.
Whether you’re a fossil nerd, history buff, or just want to stand in front of something that makes your problems feel very, very small, Waco Mammoth National Monument is a must. Bring your curiosity and prepare to leave with some absolutely wild trivia for your next awkward dinner party.
Bonus: One More Waco Gem I Recommended Elsewhere
While I kept this list focused on my personal favorite spots, I also had the chance to share a different recommendation in a recent article over on Redfin! If you're looking to add even more Waco fun to your trip, check out this feature I was included in: 12 Things to do in Summer in Waco, TX | Redfin.
Because when it comes to Waco, there’s always something else to discover.
Waco might not be the first city that comes to mind when you're planning a getaway, but it should be. Between mammoth fossils, street art, Czech beer halls, and dive bars with karaoke, it’s a choose-your-own-adventure kind of town in the very best way. So skip the crowds, pack your sense of curiosity (and maybe a cooler for all the Dr Pepper), and see what Waco has waiting for you off the Magnolia path.
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